BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Andria Booth's game-winning single led Gardner-Webb to a 3-2 win over Radford in Saturday's first game, but the Highlanders held off the Runnin' Bulldogs in game two, as the 'Dogs fell, 2-1, and split the twinbill.
Game One: Gardner-Webb 3, Radford 2
It took until the bottom of the seventh inning for Gardner-Webb's bats to come to life, but the 'Dogs were not deterred by a two-run deficit and being down to their final three outs.
Radford had plated two runs earlier in the day – one in the third inning and one in the fifth.
Brooke Perry led off the inning for the Runnin' Bulldogs and reached on an error by the second baseman to give the 'Dogs momentum. Autumn Owen reached via a fielder's choice, and with one on and one out, Jenna Wacaster hit a single to shallow right field, and Owen made her way to third, just 60 feet from home.
Meredith Ferguson's walk loaded the bases, and she was replaced by pinch runner Abbey Goodrum. Gardner-Webb scored its first run when Weslyn Almond was hit by a pitch, which sent Owen home.
After a popout, Booth stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs.
Booth, who entered the day hitting .405, was ahead in the count before legging out an infield single. Booth's RBI base hit scored J. Wacaster, and a wild throw by Radford's third baseman, allowed Goodrum to score the game-winning run. The walk-off 3-2 victory was Gardner-Webb's first Big South Conference victory of the year.
Perry (11-6) went the distance and earned the win. She gave up two runs (one earned) on seven hits. She struck out six and walked four. Radford's Jessie Marvin (5-8) took the loss. Marvin surrendered three runs, all of which were unearned due to the error to start the bottom of the seventh.
Sydney Fisher (2-for-4, run) was the only Highlander to record a multi-hit game. Destiny Freeman (1-for-3, RBI) and Hannah Medlam (1-for-3, RBI) each batted in runs for RU.
For Gardner-Webb, Booth was 2-for-4 with an RBI, while J. Wacaster and Annamarie Warley also recorded hits.
Game Two: Gardner-Webb 1, Radford 2
Gardner-Webb threatened multiple times early in the final game of the doubleheader, but was unable to score until the final inning.
In the bottom of the first, Warley got into scoring position with a double down the left field line, but was left stranded 60 feet from home as Radford's Kayla Huffman got a strikeout to end the inning.
Back-to-back walks, followed by a two-out single to left field by Trinity Sterrett loaded the bases for the 'Dogs in the following inning, but all three base runners were left on the basepaths as Booth flew out to left to end the inning.
After a quiet third inning, Radford took a 1-0 when Sofia Tapia tripled to right center field, scoring Destiny Freeman.
Laken Myers did not allow another run until the sixth when a leadoff home run gave RU a 2-0 advantage. Myers' day came to an end after five innings of work and two runs surrendered. Reah Barger threw the sixth and seventh innings and gave up just one hit.
In similar fashion to game one, Gardner-Webb waited until the bottom of the seventh to attempt a comeback.
Singles by Sterrett and Booth gave the Runnin' Bulldogs two runners on and nobody out. Sterrett tagged up when Warley flew out and scored on Kaylee Wacaster's sacrifice fly.
Trailing 2-1, Gardner-Webb was unable to complete the comeback. Two straight outs ended the contest as Radford held on to win the rubber match.
Myers (5-4) took the loss, while Huffman (5-9) earned the victory. Huffman was the winning pitcher in both of Radford's victories and threw complete games in both of her appearances. She surrendered just one run and allowed five hits in the Highlanders' Saturday afternoon triumph.
Sterrett (2-for-2, RBI) led Gardner-Webb at the plate, while Talia Douglas (2-for-4, RBI) and Sofia Tapia (2-for-3, RBI) had multi-hit games and each batted in runs for Radford.
Gardner-Webb will take a short break before traveling to Western Carolina for a non-conference doubleheader on Tuesday, Mach 26. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.
